{"slug": "bactria", "label": "Bactria", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bactria", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132646", "qid": "Q132646", "description": "historical region in Central Asia", "entries": 31, "years": 26, "span": [-330, 709], "span_label": ["331 BCE", "709 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 12}, {"title": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "count": 6}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 4}, {"title": "Exploration & Expansion", "count": 3}, {"title": "Crime & Justice", "count": 3}, {"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 1}, {"title": "Health & Medicine", "count": 1}, {"title": "Culture & Society", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "india", "label": "India", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "parthia", "label": "Parthia", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "seleucid", "label": "Seleucid", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "medes", "label": "Medes", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "achaemenid-empire", "label": "Achaemenid Empire", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "darius-iii", "label": "Darius III", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "balkh", "label": "Balkh", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "ancient-egypt", "label": "Ancient Egypt", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "asia-minor", "label": "Asia Minor", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "black-sea", "label": "Black Sea", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "aegean-sea", "label": "Aegean Sea", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "seleucid-empire", "label": "Seleucid Empire", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": -330, "year_label": "331 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "October 1", "text": "October 1 – Alexander is victorious in the Battle of Gaugamela (near ancient Ninevah) over the Persian King Darius III. Alexander pursues the defeated Persian forces to Arbela, Darius moves his Bactrian cavalry and Greek mercenaries into Media.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1210205718#Macedonia", "title": "331 BC", "revid": 1210205718, "section": "Events › By place › Macedonia"}}, {"year": -329, "year_label": "330 BCE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Before continuing his pursuit of Darius III, who has retreated into Bactria, Alexander assembles all the Persian treasure and entrusts it to Harpalus, who is to hold it at Ecbatana as chief treasurer. Parmenion is also left behind in Media to manage communications between Alexander and the rest of his rapidly growing lands.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1326554346#Macedonian_Empire", "title": "330 BC", "revid": 1326554346, "section": "Events › By place › Macedonian Empire"}}, {"year": -329, "year_label": "330 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Darius III, king of Persia, was killed in Bactria (b. c. 380 BC)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1326554346#Deaths", "title": "330 BC", "revid": 1326554346, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": -329, "year_label": "330 BCE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": "July 17", "text": "July 17 – King Darius III is deposed and killed by Bessus, the satrap of Bactria. Bessus assumes the kingship as Artaxerxes V.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1326554346#Persian_Empire", "title": "330 BC", "revid": 1326554346, "section": "Events › By place › Persian Empire"}}, {"year": -328, "year_label": "329 BCE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "In Bactria, Bessus raises a national revolt in the eastern satrapies using the title of King Artaxerxes V of Persia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1356261159#Macedonian_Empire", "title": "329 BC", "revid": 1356261159, "section": "Events › By place › Macedonian Empire"}}, {"year": -328, "year_label": "329 BCE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Marching west to Bactra (Zariaspa), Alexander appoints Artabazus of Phrygia as the satrap of Bactria.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1356261159#Macedonian_Empire", "title": "329 BC", "revid": 1356261159, "section": "Events › By place › Macedonian Empire"}}, {"year": -327, "year_label": "328 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Understanding now the danger represented by his enemy, Alexander moves personally to relieve Maracanda, only to learn that Spitamenes has left Sogdiana. Spitamenes then attacks Bactra, from where he is repulsed with great difficulty by the satrap of Bactria, Artabazus of Phrygia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1353522998#Macedonian_Empire", "title": "328 BC", "revid": 1353522998, "section": "Events › By place › Macedonian Empire"}}, {"year": -322, "year_label": "323 BCE", "section": "Health & Medicine", "date": null, "text": "Philip controls Bactria and Sogdiana;", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1311163255#Macedonian_Empire", "title": "323 BC", "revid": 1311163255, "section": "Events › By place › Macedonian Empire"}}, {"year": -254, "year_label": "255 BCE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Diodotus I, Seleucid satrap of Bactria, rebels against Antiochus II and becomes the founder of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340601033#Bactria", "title": "255 BC", "revid": 1340601033, "section": "Events › By place › Bactria"}}, {"year": -245, "year_label": "246 BCE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": null, "text": "In order to secure the Bactrian King Diodotus' friendship, Seleucus II Callinicus arranges the marriage of one of his sisters to King Diodotus.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1358219611#Seleucid_Empire", "title": "246 BC", "revid": 1358219611, "section": "Events › By place › Seleucid Empire"}}, {"year": -243, "year_label": "244 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The war in Asia Minor and the Aegean Sea intensifies as the Achaean League allies itself to Ptolemy III Euergetes of Egypt, while Seleucus II secures two allies in the Black Sea region. Ptolemy III's armies reach as far as Bactria and the borders of India in their attacks on the Seleucid Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370482239#Greece", "title": "244 BC", "revid": 1370482239, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -222, "year_label": "223 BCE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": null, "text": "King Diodotus II of Bactria is killed by a usurper, Euthydemus I, founder of the Greco-Bactrian Euthydemid dynasty.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1243366265#Bactria", "title": "223 BC", "revid": 1243366265, "section": "Events › By place › Bactria"}}, {"year": -222, "year_label": "223 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Diodotus II, King of Bactria, the son and successor of Diodotus I (approximate date) (b. c. 252 BC)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1243366265#Deaths", "title": "223 BC", "revid": 1243366265, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": -207, "year_label": "208 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Antiochus III advances into Bactria, which is ruled by the Greco-Bactrian king Euthydemus I, and defeats Euthydemus at the Battle of the Arius. After resisting a siege of his capital Bactra (Balkh) by the Seleucids, Euthydemus obtains an honourable peace by which Antiochus promises Euthydemus' son Demetrius the hand of one of his daughters.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364334903#Seleucid_Empire", "title": "208 BC", "revid": 1364334903, "section": "Events › By place › Seleucid Empire"}}, {"year": -205, "year_label": "206 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Arsaces II, king of the Parthians, loses territory in battles with Euthydemus I, ruler of Bactria.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1361853494#Persia", "title": "206 BC", "revid": 1361853494, "section": "Events › By place › Persia"}}, {"year": -204, "year_label": "205 BCE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Antiochus III returns from his eastern campaigns, after having defeated the Bactrians and subjugated the Parthians and thus being able to partly restore Seleucid power in these provinces by crushing the revolting governors of Media, Persia and Anatolia. Having established a system of vassal states in the East, Antiochus now adopts the ancient Achaemenid title of \"great king\", and the Greeks, comparing him to Alexander the Great, surname him \"the Great\", that is to say Antiochus III Megas.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1361853505#Seleucid_Empire", "title": "205 BC", "revid": 1361853505, "section": "Events › By place › Seleucid Empire"}}, {"year": -169, "year_label": "170 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Around this time, Eucratides, who is either a rebellious Bactrian official or a cousin of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes, captures the throne of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom by toppling the Euthydemid dynasty's king Antimachus I.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1289094585#Bactria", "title": "170 BC", "revid": 1289094585, "section": "Events › By place › Bactria"}}, {"year": -166, "year_label": "167 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Parthians capture the key central Asian city of Herat. This victory effectively chokes off the movement of trade along the Silk Road to China and means that the Hellenic kingdom of Bactria is doomed.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340086150#Parthia", "title": "167 BC", "revid": 1340086150, "section": "Events › By place › Parthia"}}, {"year": -159, "year_label": "160 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The king of Bactria, Eucratides I, is considered to have killed Apollodotus I, an Indo-Greek king who rules the western and southern parts of the Indo-Greek kingdom, when he invades the western territories of that kingdom.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1266100355#Bactria", "title": "160 BC", "revid": 1266100355, "section": "Events › By place › Bactria"}}, {"year": -158, "year_label": "159 BCE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": null, "text": "While Eucratides I is in north west India to claim possession of the previous Bactrian King Demetrius I's territory there, the Parthians, under Mithradates I, annex two Bactrian provinces. Returning from India to reconquer them, Eucratides is murdered by his son.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1282394740#Bactria", "title": "159 BC", "revid": 1282394740, "section": "Events › Greece › Bactria"}}, {"year": -158, "year_label": "159 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Eucratides I, king of Bactria, who has reigned since around 170 BC.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1282394740#Deaths", "title": "159 BC", "revid": 1282394740, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": -154, "year_label": "155 BCE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Menander I (known as Milinda in Sanskrit and Pali) begins his reign as king of the Indo-Greek Kingdom. His territories cover the eastern dominions of the divided Greek empire of Bactria (Panjshir and Kapisa) and extend to the modern Pakistani province of Punjab, most of the Indian states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and the Jammu region. His capital is considered to have been Sagala, a prosperous city in northern Punjab believed to be modern Sialkot.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370594154#Bactria", "title": "155 BC", "revid": 1370594154, "section": "Events › By place › Bactria"}}, {"year": -140, "year_label": "141 BCE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Yuezhi refugees appear on the borders of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1326020399#Bactria", "title": "141 BC", "revid": 1326020399, "section": "Events › By place › Bactria"}}, {"year": -128, "year_label": "129 BCE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "The Han diplomat Zhang Qian escapes Xiongnu custody and resumes his mission of forming an anti-Xiongnu alliance with the Yuezhi. He reaches the State of Dayuan in the Ferghana Valley, whose trade with the Han had been prevented by the Xiongnu and who supply Zhang with guides. Zhang then travels to the states of Kangju, Greater Yuezhi and Daxia (Bactria). He also learns of the Parthian Empire, Daqin, the Caspian Sea and the source of the Yellow River.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369561461#China", "title": "129 BC", "revid": 1369561461, "section": "Events › By place › China"}}, {"year": -127, "year_label": "128 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Greco-Bactrian kingdom is overrun by the Tokhari.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1318575176#Bactria", "title": "128 BC", "revid": 1318575176, "section": "Events › By place › Bactria"}}, {"year": -125, "year_label": "126 BCE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "To avoid the Xiongnu and Qiang of the north-west and west respectively, Emperor Wu begins a policy of exploring a possible route of contact with Daxia (Bactria) via India, sending envoys to establish diplomatic relations with and movement through the Dian Kingdom. Wu wishes to receive the submission of Daxia and other states in western Eurasia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1213344030#China", "title": "126 BC", "revid": 1213344030, "section": "Events › By place › China"}}, {"year": -11, "year_label": "12 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "King Azes II dies. The rule of the Indo-Scythians crumbles as the Kushans, one of the five tribes of the Yuezhi who live in Bactria expand into India to create a Kushan Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372852966#India", "title": "12 BC", "revid": 1372852966, "section": "Events › By place › India"}}, {"year": 10, "year_label": "10 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Euthydemid dynasty, a Greek dynasty in Bactria, is brought to an end.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371078816#Central_Asia", "title": "10s", "revid": 1371078816, "section": "Events › 10 AD › Central Asia"}}, {"year": 440, "year_label": "440 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "The Hephthalites (White Huns) move south from the Altai Mountains region into Transoxiana, Bactria, Khorasan and eastern Persia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364748079#Persia", "title": "440", "revid": 1364748079, "section": "Events › By place › Persia"}}, {"year": 708, "year_label": "708 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Nazaktar Khan, a Turk Shahi prince in alliance with the Tibetan Empire, captures Bactria from the Umayyads.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340807106#Asia", "title": "708", "revid": 1340807106, "section": "Events › By place › Asia"}}, {"year": 709, "year_label": "709 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "After two years of failed efforts, Qutayba ibn Muslim captures Bukhara (Uzbekistan) for the Umayyad Caliphate. The Hephthalite princes of Tokharistan rebel against the Arabs, but are swiftly subdued by Qutayba.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340807109#Arabian_Empire", "title": "709", "revid": 1340807109, "section": "Events › By place › Arabian Empire"}}]}